Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thank you gentleman! :)
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by BWT »

Great looking knife Dimitri, really like those handles, thanks for sharing.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks Bill ::tu::
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

This thread has yet to have a quill knife posted which would fall under pen knives - I thought I would share this group shot I took the other day of 3 old Sheffield quills of mine -

From top to bottom:

John Hinchcliffe (ca 1830-1851)

G-Crown-R (prior to 1830) - Stamp under Royal Warrant Marks was unknown until KJ recently suggested it may say "Patent"... also the Royal Warrant Marks appear to be from a hand carved die stamp indicating a very early knife... It may be a Joseph Rodgers made quill as suggested to me a few years ago but not sure.. Tortoise with sterling silver band at mid-cover; Also appears to be a gold plated bolster as seen on knives in Smiths Key of Sheffield knives from 1816; Stove-pipe kick

V-Crown-R (1837-1901) - Carved Ivory with coping blade
Hinchcliffe-GCR-VCR DSCN0444.JPG
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by danno50 »

Three very nice old quill knives, Lee! ::tu:: I especially like the tortoise shell handled one.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks very much Dan ::tu:: ::tu:: ... I think that knife is the oldest in my collection (prior to 1830 and under the reign of King George the II, III or IV) and definitely one of my favorites as well :D - I am guessing early 1800s (no doubt prior to 1830) and the stamp seems to indicate that it was hand cut which I recently was told was done up until 1820... Given it is in the ballpark of 200 years old and the blade still has good opening and closing snap speaks to quality (or luck that nobody ever badly abused it :lol: )... Amazingly it was local find almost 2-3 years ago... If "knives could only talk" this one would have no doubt have some great stories ::nod:: ... Here's some better recent photos of just that knife -
Closed Mark Side DSCN0261.JPG
Closed Pile Side DSCN0270.JPG
Blade Open DSCN0284.JPG
Tang Stamp DSCN0310.JPG
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danno50
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by danno50 »

Thanks for the additional information, Lee. I thought that tang stamps were hand cut much later than 1820? I remember reading something about hand cut tang stamps in Gerald Witcher's book, but can't find the reference right now.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

My pleasure Dan ::tu:: ... in terms of handcut stamps Gunsil mentioned it in another post it was pre-1820 but a in a search on Royal Warrant Marks I did see hand cut stamps were pre-1830 so the same ballpark but have not as of yet in a cursory search seen other info about hand cut stamps (here's the link to Royal Warrant Marks: http://atkinson-swords.com/marks-and-st ... -markings/ - in contrast the VcrownR quill stamp is indeed recognizable as not handcut being very uniform in appearance.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by danno50 »

Lee, when you say hand cut stamp, are you referring to the tang markings on each individual blade tang being hand cut, or incised, into the tang itself? Or are you meaning that the stamping tool with which the tang was marked was hand cut? On pages 56 and 57 of Gerald Witcher's book he has a fairly long quote from an article, by Herb Aycock, from the August 1996 issue of NKCA Magazine, which states that up until the mid 1930's all steel marking tools were hand cut.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Interesting Dan - I was talking about the hand cut being done to the stamping tool or die used as that is how it was explained to me. In addition I was only going by Gunsil's comment on the "European and other Foreign Mfg Knives" subforum that this was pre-1820 (here's the thread - viewtopic.php?f=30&t=55319 ) - nonetheless I am not sure now of the answer but I do think it is a very early knife and looking at the stamp it is indeed not as uniform as later knives that were not supposedly stamped with a handcut die - just my opinion and those who have seen the knife up close and personal :) ...
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by danno50 »

Thanks for the link, Lee. I now remember previously having read it. In order to not sidetrack this pen knife thread, I am going to start a new thread on the issue of when hand cut stamps ceased to be used. Have to go out for awhile right now, but will get it started later today.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by BWT »

Love those knives Lee, thanks for sharing.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Sheffieldguy »

Beautiful quills ! Never payed much attention to them until I picked this Joseph Rodgers and Sons up a few weeks ago. It’s stamped W crown R which dates it between 1831 and 1837. Has great snap with a half stop.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by danno50 »

Beautiful knife, Sheffieldguy! ::tu:: Did you find that one locally, or online?
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by FRJ »

Beautiful Quill. Like it was made yesterday. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

That is indeed a beauty Sheffieldguy ::tu:: ::tu:: ... Thanks for sharing it....
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Sheffieldguy »

The only thing that would say it’s not brand new is some light pitting on the blade!
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Sheffieldguy »

Picked it up on Etsy from a guy in the UK for about $55. US.
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by TwoFlowersLuggage »

Sheffieldguy: LOL - I have to admit, I assumed *you* were the guy on Etsy from the UK with all the knives!! :oops:
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

No doubt this is a pen knife - IXL George Wostenholm Celebrated Cutlery (1850-1890 according to Goins) – 3” closed with ivory covers in a very slim congress style type frame… I did post thus under Antique Quills as I do believe it is a double end quill knife which was seen in the mid to later 1800s and double end quill knives are not often seen. Also my understanding - like this knife - is that double end quills had 2 blades of the same size without a larger master blade that differentiates it as a quill and not a pen knife in general. Check the mark vs pile sides and you can see the blades are the same size as well...
Closed Mark Side DSCN0155.JPG
Closed Pile Side DSCN0130.JPG
Blades Open DSCN0054.JPG
Tang Stamp DSCN0090.JPG
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Here's another George Wostenholm IXL Cutlery (1850-1890) - 3 & 3/4" so on the larger size. Nice old pocket worn stag... Master blade stamped IXL Cutlery and pen blade stamped "Celebrated" (somewhat hidden under bolster) which was often done on these earlier era Wostenholm knives... Thanks for looking...
Closed Mark Side DSCN2581.JPG
Closed Pile Side DSCN2566.JPG
Blades Open DSCN2608.JPG
Tang Stamp - Master DSCN2583.JPG
Tang Stamp - Pen DSCN2559.JPG
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

That is one nice old knife!!
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by FRJ »

I've been missing out. I haven't checked this thread recently.
Beautiful little double ended quill knife, Lee.
Also, a very cool large, equal end pen.
Two ends of the spectrum and beauties in every way. ::tu::
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Olde Cutler and Joe ::tu:: ::tu:: .....
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

A couple of pens I have acquired recently.
Cattaraugus 3 1/2" bone handled swell center 22979
Robeson 2 3/4" 82264. When I got this Robeson, both handles were broken and it had the smaller pen blade broken. Rehandled in walnut.
IMG_2133.JPG
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